XTC

[epitreture]

Here's a neat little song and video which includes a Rick bass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Da9sc6YDBo

[blueflamerick]

Great band, great song, awesome bass line, but that ain't a Rick bass. I think it's a Kay faker.

[brianeharmonjr]

Here's another great XTC song with a Ric 360/12 JG, but no Ric bass.

[janglerocker]

Look like Dave's playing a 450/12 in this one. Hey, where have I seen that horse before?

[alanz]

Oh the cruel irony of a song from "English Settlement" having a video of them playing on stage.

Damn you, live performance gods! Damn you for taking XTC away from us!

A musician's band XTC is; Dave is a guitarist's guitarist, Colin is a bassist's bassist and Andy is a songwriter's songwriter.

[jingle_jangle]

Agreed. My own personal fave is "Nonsuch", with "ES" a close settlement; er, second. Er, forgot about "Skylarking". Well, they're all stupendous in one way or another. Andy is one of the most engaging interviewees I've heard on radio; I heard him talking to the late, great Deirdre O' Donohough and was amazed.

[janglerocker]

On the XTC theme, here's Andy's daughter, Holly (from Holly up on Poppy fame) with a JG Rick.
Her band The SheBeats are about to take off in the UK.

http://b9.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/0155 ... 6559_l.jpg

...and their first video....

[alanz]

Black Sea. Still, after, what, 27 years? Amazing record. Andy can just barely spit out all the words to "Burning With Optimism's Flames" cuz there's almost too many of them.

[randyz]

Yep, Andy's amazing. He's also very underrated as a guitarist. Dave of course was great, but Andy's skills are all over the last couple of XTC discs. On the subject of stage fright, I picked up a copy of an XTC biography while vacationing in Canada in the late 1990's. I had been having a terrible time because I felt strangely claustrophobic on the airline flight and had trouble sleeping and relaxing throughout the trip. While reading about Andy's anxiety issues, I began to suspect that I might be suffering from an anxiety disorder. When I got home, I went to a doctor who confirmed that workplace stress had caused me to develop a anxiety disorder. While I previously couldn't understand how a seemingly extroverted Andy could suddenly stop performing live, I now understand the kind of severe physical discomfort that can be caused by stress/anxiety. Although I'm much better now and no longer on medication, I have to be careful to avoid situations that can aggravate my condition.

[randyz]

I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite Partridge tune, because he writes so well in so many styles. One song that I like to play for friends unfamiliar with XTC is 'Complicated Game' from 'Drums And Wires'. It starts out in a whisper and ends screaming. It's enough scare most people out of a chair when you crank up the stereo.

[paologregorio]

Agreed. My own personal fave is "Nonsuch", with "ES" a close settlement; er, second. Er, forgot about "Skylarking". Well, they're all stupendous in one way or another. Andy is one of the most engaging interviewees I've heard on radio; I heard him talking to the late, great Deirdre O' Donohough and was amazed.

Ditto that. I probably lean a little more towards Skylarking as my top fave among the three, but those are all personal faves. I especially love the way the songs on "Skylarking" run into each other. I also like the recordings they did as the "Dukes of Stratoshphear" (their spelling, not mine).

If anyone wants to get upset, they can play Mandy Moore's version of "Senses". She's got a great voice, but the arrangement blows; it's a typical "Idol" style, bland, cliche' ridden arrangement, played by colourless, bland, generic studio musicans.

[expomick]

"Fly On The Wall" is still one of my favourite songs of all time.

Love this band. Didn't go see them when they played live in Ottawa, Canada back in early 1980. Didn't have the cash, and foolishly thought I'd catch them next time.

Next time?

[jingle_jangle]

...the arrangement blows; it's a typical "Idol" style, bland, cliche' ridden arrangement, played by colourless, bland, generic studio musicans.

Let's not blame the musicians just yet...they are usually willing to give their all, and are at the mercy of the producer, who is at the mercy of the "artist" and [her] handlers...

[janglerocker]

A great XTC tribute album is "A Testimonial Dinner"

I'll link you to it through the be all end all of XTC fan sites. http://chalkhills.org/

http://chalkhills.org/reelbyreal/a_Test ... inner.html

[alanz]

Also, Optimism's Flames cuz the user interface is so cool.